To obtain a mortgage broker, mortgage lender or to become a mortgage originators in the United States  a person must take the 20 Hour Mortgage NMLS S.A.F.E. Course.  In 2008 federal regulation took over the mortgage licensing process with the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing of 2008 Act.  This Act established the National Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS), which performs the approval process for training, registering and licensing residential loan originators, mortgage brokers, lenders and mortgage schools.  The “S.A.F.E.” portion of the name of the course refers an acronym of the federal act itself. 

To be licensed in Iowa, here is a link to Iowa licensing requirements.